Time is just flying by in a blur. I realize that I am a day behind on my blogging and I feel pretty bad about it because I want to try and journal all of these experiences that we are having to share with you all and to have the memories for the future. We have had our hands full with Catherine and with all of our appointments that I just run out of time. I feel like some of the things we did yesterday we did today and some of the things we did today we did yesterday. Ugh…
Yesterday we had our appointment at the Civil Affairs Bureau in Chongqing where Catherine officially made our daughter according to China. We were ushered up to an office floor that was decorated in red. I thought it was actually a pretty fancy office. There were a few other families from other agencies that were there to make their adoptions official. We had to take a family portrait for our documents, pay our orphanage donation, get fingerprinted and then we were presented with a beautiful certificate and a gold plate as a gift from China. We were supposed to be interviewed by some officials from the government but because of some traffic jam, the officials weren’t able to be there, so we didn’t have to do that part. I was a little nervous about being interviewed, so when they said we didn’t have to do it I was relieved.
After the CAB appointment, we spent some time in the area looking at small park/mall type area. So many of the people stopped to look at the babies and at us. We had many people tell us that Catherine was beautiful and that she was a lucky baby. When people tried to touch her or talk to her, she started to cry. I think that’s a good sign because she is attaching to us. It was pretty intimidating to have so many people crowd around us just to stare.
After that we went back to the hotel to just hang out. We put Catherine on our bed to play with her toys and man does she love toys! She loves her keys, and a ball that our friends the Richters gave us, her books, and the beach ball. She is starting to scoot along and is definitely more active. She loves to giggle and show her toothy grin.
Bedtime is a rough time for us. She loves to take a bath and splash in the water but she does not like to be dressed or actually go to bed. She cries and cries for about 30-45 minutes before she finally falls asleep. We are pacing the hotel room and rocking her and it starts to make my arms and back hurt. It’s so heartbreaking to cry so loud for so long. Once she goes to sleep though she sleeps deeply and throughout the night.
Today has been a rough day for all of us. Catherine has been so cranky for most of the day. If she wasn’t sleeping she was crying. There was a point in time that I just started crying too because I didn’t know what else to do for her. John finally was able to get her to calm down and go back to sleep. John spent a couple of hours filling out paperwork for our Consulate appointment and Catherine spent most of the day in bed. In the afternoon all of us families managed to venture out to a shopping area near the hotel. Again we were followed, stared at, and stopped to see the babies. We wanted to go out and get some fresh air and to find a fan (it’s so freaking hot here that I am miserable during the day) but the trip was a bust. We couldn’t find a fan that a store would sell to us and Catherine started having a breakdown so we headed back to the hotel.
When we finally got her down for a nap, the other moms in the group (Robyn and Cathy) and I went to the mall that is attached to our hotel to get away for about an hour. We had fun window shopping and looking at all of the stores that are so unique to China.
Tonight was also rough trying to get Catherine to bed. It took about an hour and a half of pacing the hotel room trying to get her to sleep. As soon as she would nod off she would wake back up screaming. I just get so sad because I wish I could make her feel better but I know she is grieving and she has gone through some very big changes and this is her way of coping. I pray that she sleeps well tonight and we have a better day tomorrow. We are supposed to go to Wal-Mart to stock up on some things (like a fan) in the morning. The rest of the week we don’t have too much planned until we head back to Guangzhou. We are wanting to take a cable car across the Yangtze River but we shall see how things go.
In spite of all of the tears and sometimes helpless feelings we are just so happy that she is officially ours according to China.
I have to say that I am ready for some American food like mashed potatoes and chicken pot pie.
I remember the red room! It was pretty for a government office. Congrats on her being officially yours!
When you get back to Guangzhou, if you stay on Shamian Island (at the White Swan or the Victory) then go eat at Lucy’s. They have real live american food, like FRENCH FRIES and grill cheese and pasta. It’s good stuff. In Chongqing there should be a pizza hut and/or a KFC near you (they’re everywhere!) They are very very close to home food. Be careful at KFC because the food is SPICY and they don’t advertise it that way. Get a big drink (no ice!!) and you’ll be ok. Also, they don’t have any mayo or anything to cut the spice. Those are my words of wisdom.
I hope Catherine is sleeping better!! And you too Mom. I didn’t sleep very well after we got Em, I kept getting up to check on her!! But you need your rest too, so don’t forget.
She is SO ADORABLE!!!! OH MY GOSH! Even more so than in all the photos you have! And her “surprised” expression on her photos…absolutely priceless. LOVE IT!
Yes, sleep when she sleeps…if possible. And THANKS for the update! I’ve been so anxious to see one!!!
I love seeing pictures of Catharine. She is just adorable. I want to squeeze those cheeks!
I wish I could give you advice on what to do to make her sleep better. The only thing I can say is to sleep when she sleeps so that you are rested as well.
Hang in there… I am sure you will find that secret that will get Catherine to sleep in a matter of minutes… to get my niece to sleep, if I sung ‘You are my sunshine’ and she would be asleep in seconds… wonder if my voice was that bad… lol… Glad to see you post when you can… if you can’t… doesn’t matter… enjoy your ‘Catherine’ time… take care
She is SO beautiful! I love that picture of her on the bed with her bunny
Is it possible that she is teething? That could be a partial explaination for the crying. Just a thought.
I bet you’re looking forward to being back home and getting into a regular routine with her!
Oh! She is breathtaking! So sorry to hear about her ‘itching’. I would start with trying to find bathing products that are either ‘Aveeno’ or fragrance free. Then you can rule out that.
As far as her rubbing her ear, she might have an ear-infection or an ear ‘issue’ when you see the doctor, hopefully they will be able to see that.
I would be patient with her trouble getting to sleep. You are doing your best and in time she will get more comfortable with you and the routine. She may be missing something she is used to, sounds, smells etc. You are going to fill that, she will learn that soon.
Prayers are with you.
**hugs** on the sleeping. wish i could help.
she is beautiful.
She literally takes my breath away – sooo beautiful! I wondered about teething too when I saw those little front teeth. Maybe WalMart will have teething rings you can try. Very glad to hear she likes water – auntie Melissa will start planning her swimming career…first swim team, then I’ll train her as a lifeguard…:-)
She is too precious for words.
Check with the pediatrician about the ears. That often caused sleepless nights for us. Even without a fever:)
Just enjoy your time and enjoy Catherine. It will get better.
Eva and Sara
She is absolutely adorable!
I agree with the others before me…be sure to have her ears checked. Ear infections, even slight ones, can really mess with her sleeping (amongst other things).
I totally understand about the breaking down and crying myself. I’ve done that soooo many times….sometimes you just don’t know what else to do. Hang in there!
She is so beautiful. I hope you all sleep better tonight.
Blessings-Andie
I’m so happy to Catherine with her family! All babies are different, so I’m not claiming to have the answers. However, when we traveled a few months ago to get Coee, we had a hard time with bedtime too. I finally figured the best way with her was to just lay down on the bed with her. She would happily roll around until I would finally realize that she had stopped (sometimes with her leg up in the air or some other odd position) and had fallen asleep. Sometimes it would take as long as 45 minutes, but it wasn’t a crying battle that way….and I was there with her, just not holding her. As hard as it was for us not to rock or hold her to get her to sleep, she just wasn’t used to doing anything but falling asleep on her own. She still does best going to sleep on her own after being rocked a bit, and only gradually has gotten to where she seems completely comfortable being held and rocked.
She is beautiful!!
Catherine is absolutely adorable. It is just precious and so sweet to see all of you together. I know things will get easier the longer she is with you! Best to your family.
Hang in there Mom and Dad. Boy, calling you Mom after knowing you when you were in the FD Explorer Post makes me feel old and very, very happy. We like what you have done with Catherine’s hair! Hope her ear clears up before the flight back, that could be a little rough on her. Of course you are getting all of this medical info from the peanut gallery, make that paramedic with you earn his living! Have a great time in China, we can’t wait for a visit to Maryland.
hang in there with the ‘putting her down to sleep’ ritual. our Little Girl cried, and cried, and we tried ‘being there’ for her, hugging her, rocking her, nurturing her, talking in calm voices to her, etc. and eventually she would soothe down and go to sleep. It wasn’t until we came home, we realized, that the way we were doing it, although it’s intended to help attachment, was VERY stressful to her, because she was pretty much used to just laying alone in her crib with a bottle of formula to put herself to sleep. So we switched back to this for a few months, and last month added back ‘rocking her with a bottle’ until she fell asleep or motioned that she was ready to lay in the crib. And now of course, we’re weaning her from the milk-for-sleep. anyway,you’re doing great, trust your instincts.
Re: back hurting: do you have a Mei Tai? If not, GET ONE ASAP. Order it and have it sent to your home so it’s there when you get there. (Babyhawk isn’t my favorite but they’re my second favorite. My first favorite isn’t currently making and selling as she’s on hiatus.)
She’s beautiful.
Hi There,
Congratulations on your adoption day. Catherine looks like she is settling in really well. She is a beautiful baby.
Sleep is tricky. Try a Chinese Lulably CD. Also if you got a schedule from the orphanage, try to stick with that. Go with your gut. Every one of our kids was different.
Lucy’s resturant is great.
Lisa
She is SOOOOOOOOOOO cute!! Hang in there, it will get better and you will have a very happy baby probably before you leave China. She is chubby! Too cute.
~Rebecca in FL
Congratulations! Catherine is beautiful! I know it is sooo hard at first…you all are in my prayers. As for Chongqing, we had similar experiences…only it was mid july…and I literally thought I might melt. I have never been that hot! Getall the rest you can and know that all you and her are feeling is normal!
Blessings to the new family!!!!!!!
Andrea and Lillie
I would say call the orphanage, and see if they can tell you how she used to go to sleep. Like your other friends said she may not be able to yet cope with all the attention
She may just want to self soothe and go to sleep on her own, but she also may be getting sick. When brayden would start to get sick he would fight sleep like that cause he didn’t feel good. Did you change her formula at all? She may have a tummy ache if so. Anyways, she is adorable and we are so happy for you guys, just some mom to new mom advice, hope it helped.
Love ya’ll
Crystal
Hey … it took us MONTHS to get this sleep thing down! Is she cutting more teeth … she could be experiencing pain along with the grieving. I wouldn’t worry so much about getting a routine down now … you’ll have time change and a new environment to throw her off once you get home! It will be like starting from ground zero again! Don’t be hard on yourself … tears ARE good … you need to relieve stress too … it’s not easy! Catherine is a true BEAUTY!!!!!!
It will all come together in time!!!!!
You’re getting great advice here with the sleeping issue. You know, you try different things and see what works. You might also find other options over on RQ if you have the Net access.
It’s actually according to the world that Catherine is now your daughter. It’s final, that’s it. What’s left to do relates to her immigrating to the US as a member of your family, i.e, getting her PRC passport containing the exit visa so she can leave China, and getting her immigrant visa in the passport so she’ll receive automatic US citizenship upon arrival. She’s your baby!!! And sooo sweet. >sigh<
How Beautiful is your little one!! So happy to see everything is going well. Congrats on her being all yours now…Hope your dh is feeling better and both of you can take in China with your daughter…Linda
Hang in there! My daughter came home with us from Chongquing on Aug 16 2007. The first 2 to 3 months were very stressful and difficult, however life is good now. Lily goes to bed easily, smiles all the time and is very sweet and lovable. It will get better.
Renee
Wendy and John,
I am sooooo happy for you guys!! What a beautiful little angel!! Am loving the updates!
Take care and know we’re praying for you all,
Julie
She’s adorable! CONGRATS again!!!
God bless